The current pandemic has had a devastating impact on our humanity and businesses, but it has also sparked a wave of innovation. From touchless keys to luxury charter services, we’ve rounded up some new ideas that have been born through COVID-19.
New Ideas Born Through COVID-19
Assembly Kitchen
Launched by upscale Mexican restaurant Comedor, the new at-home meal kit delivery service called Assembly Kitchen offers ready to cook meals and cocktail kits from your favorite Austin restaurants. The kits include mostly prepped ingredients, simple printed recipes, and access to instructional videos. A few of the participating restaurants and bars are Comedor, Garage, Holy Roller, and more.
New Ideas Born Through COVID-19
TouchLess Handle
The TouchLess Handle is a great way to set your mind at ease while you go about your day-to-day life. You can’t control what’s out there, but you can help to halt the spread of germs with these handy tools. Laser-cut locally and hand-finished at local MetalWork Austin, these anti-microbial copper and brass handles are built to last.
New Ideas Born Through COVID-19
Vonlane Charter Services
Vonlane offers a new way to travel in Texas! The reinvention of bus travel into a first-class, premium cabin service that eliminates the stress and hassle associated with short-haul flights and Texas highways. Enjoy ample workspace, complimentary Wi-Fi, extended seat recline, and exceptional attendant service.
New Ideas Born Through COVID-19
MOD Fitness: Live Streamed Classes
More than your average barre studio, local MOD Fitness takes an athletic approach to the principles of ballet, pilates, and yoga to achieve visible results.
Straight from the studio to your screen, you can now enjoy MOD's live-streamed classes via Zoom. You'll also have unlimited access to their popular and effective barre fitness classes anytime and anywhere!
New Ideas Born Through COVID-19
Restaurants Becoming General Stores
The pandemic has caused many Austin restaurants to adjust and some have evolved into general stores offering anything from essentials like eggs and flour to toilet paper. A few local restaurants offering these essentials are Mozart’s, Spread & Co., Jester King Brewery, and Salt & Time.
New Ideas Born Through COVID-19
KREWE: Blue Light Glasses
Outsmart the strain! With so many people working from home and staring at screens all day KREWE, an eyewear company, has launched new Blue Light lenses for their optical frames. You can also enjoy your eyewear without the fear of breaking because KREWE offers a replacement pair should the frames get damaged.
New Ideas Born Through COVID-19
Everlywell: At-Home COVID-19 Test
Everlywell, a local Austin company, provides at-home lab testing kits and digital results within just days. They are now also offering COVID-19 at-home testing kits that will allow you to collect your sample and send it for processing to a certified lab for secure digital results within 24-48 hours.
New Ideas Born Through COVID-19
Distilleries Making Hand Sanitizer
Local distilleries such as Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Deep Eddy Vodka have pivoted and started to also make their own hand sanitizer to give to the community for free.
New Ideas Born Through COVID-19
Self-Driving Cars Make Food Deliveries
Cruise, the autonomous car division of General Motors, recently brought its self-driving cars out of dormancy to make food deliveries for local food banks.
New Ideas Born Through COVID-19
Vinder: Peer-to-peer Farmers Market
Vinder, an Austin startup and app, used by local farmers, bakers, and grocers to sell and deliver their products is now allowing restaurants to sell their perishable goods. That includes surplus produce, meats, raw ingredients, and baked goods.